This got me thinking, "what is the best way to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem?" It's easy to make suggestions, what's hard is the implementation and the cost of implementation. So what is the the best way to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem and the most cost effective solution?

Punitive Fines
First of all, any implementation will definitely cost money, a lot of money. The cause of the traffic mess is the people themselves so it's only right that those causing the traffic problem should be fined and the fine should hurt. That way, the fines will pay for the cost of enforcing the law.
The fines should start at P500 and goes up every week if you don't pay it within 15 days. To enforce this and prevent people from ignoring the fine. It will be tied to their driver's license or car registration. They cannot renew their d…

Taiwan Olympic quest costs $103M

TAIWAN – The Taiwanese government is using 90 percent of its revenues from lottery games to put up what is conceivably the biggest budget ever in its quest for Olympic fame, hoping it could improve on its four-bronze medal finish in the Beijing 2008 Olympics with its participation in the London Olympics and beyond.

This island state of 23 million just north of Batanes has earmarked NT 4.3B (roughly US$103 million) – NT 2.1 billion of which comes from national funds – to bankroll a one-and-a-half year program that includes recruitment, selection, training and actual participation of the final list of players, including those of the Paralympic Games which takes place after the regular Olympics.

The program, which includes 26 of the 28 Olympic sports minus baseball and basketball, has produced a final roster of 42 athletes who have qualified from 14 sports for the Olympic Games slated July 27-Aug. 13 in London.

The training expenses include regular monthly allowances of about $2,000 per national player and a provision for bonuses for gold, silver and bronze medal finishes of every player and his coach.

Dana Tai, Taiwan’s Sports Affairs Council Minister, said the government has put up NT 2.5B this year, with its national lottery expected to raise NT 2.1B from 90 percent of its revenues.

Tai, a former national athlete who is now into triathlon, said that through her recommendations, the lottery games are now being used extensively for Taiwan’s sports program, which covers 26 sports, with elite sports as the major beneficiary.

She said the lottery games, a big source of government revenue, used to channel a bigger percentage to the poor sector of society but had shifted to sports as the island nation fuels its long-range campaign for a place among the superpowers of Olympic sports. In 2008, it had two bronze medals each from taekwondo and weightlifting, a drop from its 2-2-1 output in 2004.

Taiwan lottery is the counterpart of the Philippines’ Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which runs the lotto games, and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., which funds the operations of the Philippine Sports Commission from 2.5 percent of its revenues from the casinos.

The PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee have, in fact, questioned Pagcor’s interpretation of the law on what percentage should be allotted to the PSC on a monthly basis.

Still, the six percent revenue being pushed by the PSC and POC is way below what is now being allotted to sports by the Taiwanese government.

The government fund comes from the General Appropriations Act of Congress but this is allotted to the PSC for its general and administrative expenses, with part of it going to the countryside development fund (CDF) for grassroots development and the national games.

The Pagcor funds are for elite training. The assistance to athletes from Pagcor is subject to the availability of these funds.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome Google visitors! If you're looking for old Manila pictures from the 1950s to the 1970s, you've come to the right place.

You'll see a collection of nostalgic photos when Manila was in its heyday. Just a quick note, I don't take credit for these photos. Somebody just sent them to me and I felt that it was important that I share it in the hopes that other people will see how beautiful Manila was and hopefully help bring it back to its former glory.

Manila when it was the most beautiful city in Asia in the 1950s to 1970s

The photos must have been taken in different years, from the mid 1950's to the mid 1960's, judging from the car models (though some cars are pre 1950'd). Where is O'Henry's Coffee and Donut shop in Plaza Sta Cruz (Plaza near Escolta & Reina Regente)?

Just read this article on Inquirer.net about Globe complaining that the PLDT and Digitel merger would create a monopoly.
PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan on Tuesday hit out at Globe, accusing the Ayala group of monopolistic business practices.

“PLDT is not allowed to install phone services inside malls and real estate developments (owned by the Ayala group), despite the clamor from their tenants,” Pangilinan said, noting that Globe was allowed to offer telecom services in these areas.

The Ayala group, through its Ayala Land unit, is one of the country’s largest property developers. It operates shopping malls in Metro Manila, Cebu and Pampanga.

It's funny how these big companies fight don't they? They talk about the danger of having a monopoly but all these talk are just of course to protect their business interest. In the end, the consumer ends up with the raw end of the deal.